Vehicle license tag and holder therefor



Nov. 25, 1924- L. T. THORN vnnxcma LICENSE TAG AND HOLDER THEREFOR Filed Jan, 9, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet} NOV. 25

L. T. THORN VEHICLE LICENSE TAG AND HOLDER THEREFOR Filed Jan. 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A}. i fifl770, I 3110211101 Patented Nov. 25, 1924.

UNITED STATES LAWRENCE T TI-IORN, OF HARRISBURG, ARKANSAS.

VEHICLE LICENSE TAG AND HOLDER THEREFOR.

Application filed January 9, 1924.

To all who-m it may concern:

lie it known that I, LAWRENCE T. TrronN, citizen of the United States, residing at l-larrisburn', in the county of Poinsett and State of Arkansas, have invented certain new and useful Improven'ients in Vehicle License lags and Holders Therefor, of which the f llowing is a specification.

My invention relates to an improved vchicle license tag and holder therefor, and has for its primary object the provision o such an article which, with the exception of the removable year card may be used for an indefinite period of time,'the license tag bearing the license number, and the license tag and the holder therefor being formed with a cooperating means for removably retaining a year card.

A further object of my invention resides in the provision of a license plate or tag and holder therefor, wherein improved provision is made for sealing upon the license plate printed matter showing the name and address of the vehicle owner and records, of the machine such as the date of sale, from whom bought, the number of the motor, etc, thereby effectively assisting in the apprehension of a thief should the car be stolen.

A specific object of the invention is to provide a device of the above character that is of generally simplified andimproved form, and wherein a pocket forming member is provided for retaining reception of a card or other printed matter bearing); the name and addret s of the machine owner as well as the records above set forth, said pocket forming member beingadapted for removable reception of a year card displayed through an opening in the license tag in such manner that the same may be made of cheap form, and renewed without requiring renewal of the pocket forming member, further provision being made for effectively sealing the pocket forming member and the year card in operative relation to the license tag and for sealing these parts within the holder.

Other objects will become apparent as the nature of the invention is better understood, and the same consists in the novel form, combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, shown in the accompanying drawings and claimed.

In the drawings, wherein like reference cha 'acters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Serial No. 685,191.

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a license tagand holder therefor constructed in accordance with the present invention, and in their operative sealed relation.

Figure 2 is a rear elevational view of the device shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragn'ientary horizontal sectional. view taken substantially upon the line- 3-3 of Figure 1 Figure 4: is a vertical sectional view, taken substantially upon the line let of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is an enlarged perspective view of the pocket forming member.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary perspective view showing an end portion of the license tag, and

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 6. showing a portion of one of the lower sections of the tag holder.

Referring to the drawings in detail, 5 designatcs the license plate, the major part of which at one end is impressed, or otherwise formed with the usual license number 6, and State name 7 or the like. The license plate 5 is formed at its other end with a relatively large preferably rectangular opening 8, along the inner side of which is formed a channel guide 9 that projects rearwardly from the license tag or plate 5 as shown more clearly in Figures 2, 3, or 6. In conjunction with this license tag or plate there is employed a removable pocket fo'rn'iing member and year card retaining member desig nated in its entirety as at 10, and shown clearly in Figure 5. This member consists of a strip of sheet metal, return bent, to provide a pair of plates joined at their lower edges and spaced a slight distance apart for forming a pocket within which may be re tained a card or other printed matter'bearing the name and address of the machine owner as well as the records above set forth. The rear plate of the member 10 is formed with an integral tongue 11 adjacent its outer side and that projects from the upper edgre of said rear plate to extend forwardly and then depend against the forward face of the forward plate 10 to provide a clip beneath which a removable year card, and a transparent cover plate therefor may be retained substantially as set forth in my co-pending application, upon removable year card for license tags, filed on even date herewith. The tongue 11 and the plates 10 are provided with aligned openings as at '12 for a purpose which will presently bOCOIllO aptil) lli)

card is indicated at let, it will thus be seen that the pocket forming member may be continuously used for the lite ot the tag and holder and the year card 14 may be made of water marked paper to prevent erasures and to provide a relatively cheap construction for the onlv ":Tili't which is discarded this year. This will result in a ma terial savings over the construction of license plate'sct forth in my co-pcndin application, Serial ho. tor llif nse plates, in which the pocket forming member itselii is described as being formed or iiupressed with year number instead of acting as a retainer for the your card.

The tag' holder consists of a substantially rectangular channel frame composed oi a substantially il-shaped lower section 15, and an upper bar or rail section 16, having their ends detzuxhably interlocked as generally indicated at 17, at one end of the holder, the other end of the upper section 1.6 being provided with a depending leg 18, that is adapt ed to be telescoped onto the upper end oi":

the adjacent leg of the section at the other end of the holder, the interlocking connection at 17 preventing detachment 01 the holder section 16 except when the latter is tilted upwardly about said interlocking connection. Said interlocking connection is formed by providing extensions on the ends of the legs of the frame 15, Wlih'rl are formed into return bends, arranged in spaced relation to the outer sides 01 the frame 15, for receiving the slotted end por tion of the section 16, which is also provided with extensions formed in the return bend, in spaced relation to the outer sides thereof. which are adapted to overlie the return bends on the ends 01": the frame section 15, in providing the interlocking: connection, which construction forms the subject matter of my (re-pending application, hlerial No. 638,111, filed March 27 1923. As shown clearly in liigures 3 and l, the year card 14 is placed against the front face of the front plate member 1O 01 the pocket torming member 10, and the transparent cover plate 13 is then placed upon the front surface of said year card 14L, the card or other printed article being placed within the pocket between the plate members 10. As is also shown clearly in these views, the pocket forming member with its attached year card and other data is adapted to be placed in the channel guide 9, so that its outer side, top and bottom edges are dis posed within the adjacent portions ot' the holder sections 15 and 16 when the latter are assembled, at which time the year number on the year card 1-iv is in proper position to be displayed through the opening 8 oi" the tag The tag provided with an opening as at 19 and the telescopically associated leg 18, as well as the holder sections 15 are provided with similar openin 's, all of which are adapted to be in registry with each other and with the opening 12 in the member 10 when the parts are assembled as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the opening in the holder sections 15 being indicated. at 20 in Figure 7. Perforations are then formed through the year card and other article carried by the pocket forming member 10, whereupon a headed pin or bolt. it is extended through said openings 12, 19 and 20, as well as the openings in the leg 18 oi. the holder section 16, and this bolt 21 has its central portion of its stem threaded as at 22, for reception oil a nut 23 whereby a bolt may not be removed except upon first threading the nut oii'. oi the same. The extreme free end of the stem portion of the bolt 21 is provided with a transverse slot as at 24: for adapting the same to have a seal 25 passed therethrough. In this manner, the i pocket forming member is cllectively held in proper relation to the tag 5 and to the holder, while the single bolt also effects proper connection 01 the sections 15 and 16 of the tag holder and retention of the tag and pocket forming member therein. Should the seal be broken or otherwise tampered with, it will at once be apparent that the machine equipped with my license tag and holder has been stolen. It is particularly noted that by reason of the fact that the free marginal portions of the pocket forming member 10, and the year card carried thereby are held within the holder composed of the sections 15 and 16, only one channel guide 9 is necessarily formed upon the tags 5. It is further noted that the year card 14E preferably shows the signature of the owner and his address as well as the make, style, title number and motor number of the machine for which said card is used, in addition to the year number, as desi'zril'icd in my above mentioned application for patent upon removable year card for license tag. This furnishes additional means "for facilitating apprehension of a thief, in view of the fact that this data is also displayed through the opening 8 in the tag 5, together with the year number. 7

The upper section 15 of the tag holder is provided with a rear angular flange 2G including a vertical portion provided with openings as at 27, and thereby providing a bracket for facilitating mounting of the de vice upon the vehicle by the use ot bolts or like fastenings.

In view of the above description, it will be seen that I have provided a highly improved form of license. tag and holder, that not only provides protection against the theft of motor vehicles but will also prove a substantial saving in the cost of license plates, due to the fact that the entire devicewith the exception of a printed year card of simple and cheap form and construction may be used indefinitely.

What I claim as new is:

1. In combination, a license tag formed adjacent one end with a display opening, a member provided with a record sheet retaining pocket and removably positioned upon the tag rearwardly of saiddisplay opening, and means for removably retaining a year card upon the front face of said pocket forming member rearwardiy of said display opening.

2. In combination, a lirei'isev tag forn'ied adjacent one end with a display openiag, a year card retaining member positioni, d upon the tag rearwardly of said opening. a tag holder including a channel frame within which the margin of the tag and maigins of the year card retaining nunnbcr are disposed, said tag holder comprising sections interlocked at one end of the holder and sealed at the other end there f in such manner that the interlocking connection may only be disconnected upon. breaking of said seal, said seal including means passing through the year card retaining member, the tag, and the tag holder sections, for 11mintaining them operatively related with the year card display d through the tag opening.

3. In combination, a license tag formed adjacent one end with a display opening, a year card retaining member positioned upon. the tag rearwardly of said opening, a tag holder including a channel frame within which the margin of the tag and margins of the year card retaining member are disposed, said. tag holder comprising sections interlocked at one end of the holder and sealed at the other end thereof in such manner that the interlocking connection may only be dis connected upon breaking of said seal, said seal including means passing through the year card retaining member, the tag, and the tag holder sections for maintaining them operatively related with the year card displayed through the tag opening, said year card retaining member having a pocket for reception of a record sheet and the tag and he tag holder providing means for preventing removal of the record sheet from the pocket when sealed Within the holder.

at. In combination, a license tag formed adjacent one end with a display opening, a holder for said tag comprising a frame embodying separable sections, a year card retaining member positioned upon the tag rearwardly of its opening for displaying the number of the year card through said opening, said tag and holder being cooperatively constructed for retention of said year card retaining member, and sealing means includin; a member passing through the sections of the tag holder, the tag, and the year card retaining member for retaining the parts assembled.

5. In combination, a license tag formed adjacent one end with a display opening, a holder for said tag comprising a frame embodying separable sections, a year card retaining member positioned upon the tag rearwardly of its opening for displaying the number of the year card through said opening, said tag and holder being cooperatively constructed for retention of said year ward retaining member, and sealing means including a member passing through the sections of the tag holder, the tag, and the year card retaining member for retaining the parts assembled, said tag having a rearwardly projecting channel guide at the inner side of its opening in which the inner side portion of the year card retaining member is removably disposed, and said year card retaining member having its outer side, top and bottom, marginal portions disposed within the channel frame or holder.

6. In combination. a license tag formed adjacent one end with an opening, and provided along the inner side of said opening with a rearwardly extended vertical channel guide, a pocket forming member comprising a strip of metal return bent to provide a pair of spaced plates between which a record sheet may be positioned, the rear plate having a forwardly and (tlownwardly extending tongue, for retaining a year card against the forward face of the forward plate of said pocket forming member, whereby the pocket forming member may be positioned against the rear side of the tag for displaying the year numberof the year card through the tag opening when the pocket forming member is engaged in the tag guide, a tag holder including a channel frame within which the outer side, top and bottom margins of said pocket forming member are positioned, said tag holder comprising a sitibstantially U-shaped lower section and an upper bar section, having their ends interlocked at one end of the frame, the upper section having a depending leg telescoped onto the adjacent end of the lower section at the other end of the frame, said telescoped portions of the holder, the tag, and the year card retaining member haviiig aligned openings, a bolt extending through said openings, and a seal for maii'itaining the bolt within the openings whereby the tag and year card retaining member are sealed within the holder and the sections of the holder sealed against separation.

7. In combination, a license tag formed adjacent one end with anopening, and provided along the innerside of said opening with a rearwardly extei'ided vertical channel guide, a pocket forming member con'iprising llll a strip 0t metal return bent to provide a pair of spaced plates between which a record sheet may be positioned, the rear plate having a forwardly and downwardly extending tongue for retaining a year'card against the forward face of the forward plate of said, pocket forming inen'iber whereby the pocket forming member may be positioned against the rear side of the tag for displaying the year number of the year card through the tag opening when the pocket forming member is en gaged inthe tag guide, a tag holder including, a channel frame within which theoutor side, top and bottom niargins of said pocket forming member are positioned, said; tag holder comprising a substantially U-shaped lower section and an upper bar section havingftheir ends interlocked at one end oil the frame, the upper section having a depending leg telescoped onto the adjacent end oi? the lower section at the other end of? the frame, said teleseoped portions of the holder, the tag, and the year card retaining member having aligned openings, 2, bolt extending through said openings, a seal for maintaining the bolt within the openlngs whereby the tag and year card retaining member are sealed to the license tag, alicense tag holder formed of separable sections adapted for 2114581115 blage to receW-e and retain the license tag and year card therein, and sealing" and looking means for holding thelieense tag holder sections in assembled relation, said lTlGiiDH also engaging and looking the license tag; and year card in said holder."

In testimony whereof I ailixmy signature.

LAVVRENGE T. THORN. 

